October 15 Newsletter 2021

October 15, 2021 newsletter from Rawlson King, City Councillor for Rideau-Rockcliffe.

As we head into the last quarter of 2021 things are becoming increasingly busy. I want to make residents aware of two upcoming budget consultations next week. On October 19, there will be a joint budget consultation between my office and Councillor Fleury’s office. On October 20, there will be a budget consultation for Black, Indigenous, and racialized communities. Residents can register for these consultations in advance using the links below.  
 
As this weekend is forecasted to be particularly wet, residents are asked for their support in clearing catch basins of leaves in advance. Doing this will help prevent water pooling and will help roads and parking teams. Finally, interested youth are encouraged to take part in the JA Entrepreneurial Hoops 2021-2022 program. It is a free, virtual after-school program giving students the opportunity to start and run a basketball centered business and organize a Spring tournament. Full details can be found in this newsletter. 

2022 Budget Consultations 

There will be two budget consultations for Ward 13.  

At 6:30pm on Tuesday, October 19, take part in a joint budget consultation between Rideau-Rockcliffe Ward and Rideau-Vanier Ward. Register in advance here.

On Wednesday, October 20, at 6pm residents can take part in a consultation for Black, Indigenous, and racialized communities. Register in advance here.

Catch Basin Clearing 

Fall leaves are beautiful while on the trees, but when those leaves start to fall and cover our catch basins, we can expect trouble. During a heavy rain, leaves can block our catch basins causing water pooling on roads.  

Today, Environment Canada has issued a Special Weather Statement, calling for a heavy rainfall with amounts reaching 20 to 40 mm. In some areas, up to 50 mm is possible. Roads and Parking teams will be available to respond to problem areas during the rain, however we are asking for resident support BEFORE the rain, to prevent water pooling. Residents who are able to are asked to please clear their local catch basins of leaves and debris to allow water to drain from the roads. Catch basins can be located by looking for the yellow “T” marked on the roadway. Locations can also be found by visiting Ottawa.ca. 

In some communities, residents will notice that rainwater drains more slowly due to inlet control devices. Shaped like an hour glass, these devices prevent too much stormwater from entering the system all at once causing overflows. The rain should drain naturally from the road within a few hours. 

JA Entrepreneurial Hoops 2021-2022 

Do you have a passion for basketball? Interested in the world of business? Join the JA Entrepreneurial Hoops Company Program - a free, virtual after-school program giving students the opportunity to start and run a basketball centered business and organize a Spring tournament. 

Space is limited to 28 students. The deadline is October 20th. Apply today! 

*Those who do not qualify for this program may still participate in the traditional Company Program. 

Details: 

• Any student across Ottawa from Grades 9-12 can register. 
• Begins the week of October 25th, and ends in March 2022, for a total of 16 weeks with a break over the holidays and in January for exams. 
• You will meet with your team online each week for 1.5-2 hours after school (either on Tuesday or Wednesday) 
• There may be working time and mentor calls during the week. 
• Students must commit to attending at least 80% of the program meetings. 
• Thanks to generous partners, Entrepreneurial Hoops Company Program is offered at no cost to students. 
• Visit bit.ly/testimonials-JA to hear from past participants 

Scan the QR code register or visit this link: qrco.de/JAHoops 

Montreal Road Revitalization & Traffic Impacts 

Please find below a two-week update (Monday, October 11 to Friday, October 22) for the Montreal Road Revitalization project. The work activities planned for the next two weeks will include: 

• Vanier Parkway/Montreal Road intersection – Work is ongoing in the southwest quadrant of the intersection with excavation and installation of underground utility ducts.  The work will continue into late October and require the closure of the east-west crosswalk till end of October. Some intermittent lane closures along Montreal Road and Vanier Parkway will be required for the duration of the work.   

• North River Road to Vanier Parkway – The sidewalk on both the north and south side of Montreal Road is complete, except for sections near hydro poles at the North River Road/Montreal Road intersection. Installation of new streetlight poles on the south side of Montreal Road is now complete. After the streetlights are connected and energized, removal of the existing hydro poles will start this fall. The North River Road/Montreal Road intersection will be completed next year.   

• Vanier Parkway to Marier Avenue – The north side concrete curb, base asphalt, sidewalk and the asphalt cycle track are complete for this section. The curb, sidewalk, cycle track and tree cell installation on the south side is now complete. Paving of the second lift of asphalt between Vanier Parkway and Olmstead South was completed last week. The paver stone work is completed at Emond.  Landscaping will follow next year. Temporary streetlight pole removal will commence as some new streetlights are commissioned.   

• Marier Avenue to Lafontaine Avenue – The sidewalk is now complete on the north side of Montreal Road from Marier Avenue to Bradley Avenue. Concrete crews will resume work on the south side, including the section between Altha to Mona, which will be completed in the next two weeks.  Paver stone work is nearing completion on Bradley Avenue. Remaining concrete pattern and landscaping at the Bradley plaza will be completed next year. Underground utility and electrical work continues on the south side of Montreal Road between Marier Avenue and Altha Avenue.  Work at the corner of Montreal Road/Lajoie should be completed this week.  

• Lafontaine Avenue to de l’Église Street – The north side of Montreal Road between Lafontaine Avenue and Cantin Street has been paved. The south side of Montreal Road from Ducharme Boulevard to de L’Eglise Street has been paved. Concrete sidewalk on the north side from Granville to Cantin is scheduled to start over the next two weeks, as well as road construction and paving between Cantin to de L’Église.  Water service connections to buildings between Cantin and de L’Eglise were postponed and are tentatively scheduled for next week.  Notice of the temporary (8 to 12 hour) water shuts will be communicated at least 48hours in advance.  

• De l’Église Street to St. Laurent Boulevard – Outstanding work for this section includes catch basin connections (to be completed in the next two weeks) and temporary road paving for winter conditions. 

• Continued traffic impacts and road closures – Montreal Road is reduced to one westbound lane from Vanier Parkway to St. Laurent Boulevard. Lane reductions on Montreal Road and Vanier Parkway started Saturday, September 18 to facilitate the ongoing construction in the southwest quadrant of the Montreal Road/Vanier Parkway intersection. All streets are closed between Vanier Parkway and St. Laurent Boulevard, except for Olmstead Street, Marier Avenue, Granville Street/Lafontaine Avenue and Cantin Street. Over the winter months Montreal Road will be reopened to two lanes (one eastbound and one westbound lane) between Vanier Parkway and St Laurent with side street openings.  Details will be provided in the coming weeks. Traffic calming flex posts installed along Lafontaine Avenue, Deschamps Boulevard and Montfort Street, which are part of the current vehicle and bus detour route, will be removed next month in preparation for the winter snow clearing. 

• Month-long construction outlook –Aboveground and some underground work continues between Vanier Parkway and St. Laurent Boulevard. The curbs, sidewalk, cycle track and road paving are now complete between Vanier Parkway and Marier. Over the next month, concrete work will be wrapping up and the focus will be finishing the sidewalk between Marier and east of Lafontaine on both sides of Montreal Road.  Street lighting and Hydro work is continuing on North River Road with the goal of completing the east side multiuse pathway (MUP) in November.  Both Emond Street and Bradley Ave paver stone work is almost complete. The Vanier Parkway/Montreal Road intersection work in the south west quadrant of the intersection will be completed this month.  Installation of pavers along the cycle track edges and other hard landscaping continues over the next month.  Preparation for winter conditions will be starting in November.  

• Hydro update – Hydro Ottawa removed their overhead power line between North River Road and Vanier Parkway on the weekend of July 17. Installation of new streetlight poles on the south side of Montreal Road is complete. After the streetlights are connected and energized, removal of the existing hydro poles will start this fall. 

• MacKay Street – Existing asphalt has been removed and base lift paving is complete. Remaining work will entail adjusting of all iron to final elevations, followed by paving top lift asphalt and driveway and landscaping reinstatement. The resurfacing project is targeted to be completed by the end of next week.